10mm to 9mm, or 10mm to .40... What do I need???

[Vitamin G]

Eons ago I posted a thread about converting my TLE to 9mm. Survey said : "Buy a dedicated gun"


So, I was able to happen upon a Colt Delta Elite for cheap, and snagged it. What would I need to convert it to .40? New extractor? Magazines?

I'd like cheaper practice... sheesh...

[Jim Watson]

You have a Colt Delta Elite 10mm, right?
To shoot .40s you need at least a barrel.
Shooting with about an eighth inch excess headspace is not the way to safe, reliable, accurate, shooting. It might could be done in an emergency, but is not something to do routinely.

You MIGHT need a magazine with spacer and/or a softer recoil spring. But when Ken Waters tried it with a package deal kit including .40 barrel, magazine, and recoil spring for use in a 10mm, the gun would only run reliably with the 10mm magazine and recoil spring(s) under the .40 barrel.

The barrel is the expensive piece anyhow. Get one and add mag and spring if needed.

[grendelbane]

My experience with the Delta Elite.

I bought a .40 S&W barrel. Dropped right into the DE.

Received 2 Mec-Gar magazines with the barrel.

With 180 grain factory and handloads, reliability has been 100 %.

[Chuck Perry]

To convert your Delta, you will need a new barrel and magazine. You will also need a new recoil spring, and maybe a lighter main spring.
The reliability of drop in parts is iffy. They rarely "drop in" an function 100%. I would say grendelbane was very fortunate. To do it right, figure $125 for a decent bbl, give or take $25 and another $100 to have a smith fit it for you. For the same amount of money you can buy a decent reloading kit and shoot all the 10mm you want. Another option is a 22LR conversion for either 1911.